He arrived last summer but has not had the season many at Leeds United had hoped for
Isaac Johnson Leeds United reporter
05:00, 04 Apr 2026
Lucas Perri is expected to take the goalkeeper gloves on Sunday
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Lucas Perri is expected to take the goalkeeper gloves on Sunday(Image: Molly Darlington/Getty Images)
Sunday’s trip to West Ham United is significant for Leeds United in more ways than one. Primarily, the fixture offers the chance to reach the FA Cup semi-finals for the first time in 39 years.
A trip to Wembley is on the line and this is the chance to make living-memory history for many, perhaps most, of the fanbase. The game is also important in the context of the Premier League survival fight.
Leeds sit four points ahead of West Ham in 18th and will still be for another week yet but what happens this weekend could impact the mood music heading into the first Premier League matchday since the break.
Defeating the Hammers on their own patch would be a telling punch to the psyche for the hosts, ahead of their own run-in and that final day meeting with Leeds at the London Stadium. Without a win in six matches, a victory would do wonders for Leeds’ cause.
Scoring a goal
To do that, Leeds need to score and they might be without Dominic Calvert-Lewin, not that he has been exactly prolific of late. Before missing his free header for England against Uruguay, the striker has netted just once in 10 Premier League games and missed some good chances.
Leeds overall have not scored against their last four Premier League opponents who include Sunderland, Crystal Palace and Brentford - two of these being home matches. No other top-flight team has gone longer without a league goal.
Of course, Sunday is about the FA Cup but it is still against a Premier League outfit. United are at the stage where it doesn’t matter how a goal goes in, they just need to hit the net. Do so and confidence will come flooding back at just the right time.
Beating a Premier League team away
It remains the case that Leeds have not beaten a Premier League side on their own patch since September, and that was to bottom club Wolves. That actually remains their sole win on the road against a top-tier club.
Noble draws have been earned at the likes of Liverpool and Chelsea, while the goalless draw with 10 men at Crystal Palace ought to be categorised within the same bracket. Yet even in the 2022/23 relegation season, Leeds won two away league games.
Once again, this is the cup and not the league, But by defeating West Ham away and finally downing a Premier League outfit away, Leeds will be buoyed heading to Manchester United eight days later.
Bournemouth, Tottenham Hotspur and, of course, West Ham are all difficult trips. Should Leeds get a win in London this weekend, they can travel to these places with belief outriding mere hope.
Lucas Perri’s first proper test back
Assuming Perri will be in goal amid his second-choice status, this will be the Brazilian’s first real test since being dropped in January, certainly against a Premier League team again.
Perri was called into action several times against Birmingham City in the fourth round and ended up being the penalty shoot-out hero. But that was against Championship talent - Sunday will be his first chance to properly make a statement.
Karl Darlow has been in impressive form and will likely not be usurped in the final seven Premier League games, and it would seem likely Leeds dip back into the summer market for a new goalkeeper as things stand.
It is up to Perri to sway the mind of the recruitment team, that he can grow into his potential and that he can rebound. His best chance comes on Sunday and possibly beyond should Leeds get through to the semi-finals. It’s an important weekend for Perri.
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